Jay-z - American Gangster (album)

[theFRANCHISE]

(Please, no rap music bashing...)

So now that Jay-Z's concept album based on the Denzel Washington film of the same name has been in stores for a few days, what are your thoughts on the album?

Personally, my standards were not high going into my first listen. I was initially disappointed by his last album, Kingdom Come, due to its subpar (and overly glossy) production, and I thought Jay wasted some of his best verses on that album.

But...I was wrong about this album. It didn't fall flat like I thought it would. In fact, it's probably one of the best albums he's ever put out, if not the best. Yes, MAYBE even better than his debut, Reasonable Doubt. Or even better than his 2001 classic, The Blueprint.

This album has none of the standard materialism you'd come to expect from your typical mainstream rap album. In fact, this truly is a concept album through-and-through, complete with the type of storytelling that defined classic Jay-Z.

There's barely any radio-tailored choruses, and the few songs sprinkled in that SOUND made-for-radio actually have deeper meanings to the lyrics in keeping with the motif of Denzel's film.

The atmosphere is consistent throughout, and there's not much to hate about the album if you're a fan of lyrical storytelling. The production is smooth and atmospheric in all the right places, and it's everything that Reasonable Doubt would've been had Jay made that album for the sake of art and not commercial appeal.

Your thoughts?

[Raven07]

Jay is a Lyrical Mastermind, one which doesnt need pen and pencil to write a beat and a Rap, he hears the Music and the beat first, and makes up his Lyrics right then and there on the spot, in the studio, and memorizes every word so he knows exactly wat to say and how to say it. I Love Jay.....to me he's one of the best out there, he's one who truly Loves his Music and understands the Concept of creating a "Album"......one that doesnt have just 1 hit song, but one to which People and Fans Love and to which they dont have Favorite Songs. The Entire Album is masterpiece of his hard work.

[BrownsFan]

I'm not a big rap fan (don't necessarily hate it either, just not a huge fan) but I LOVE Jay-Z. I just think that really he is a lyrical genius and I really like his beats on all of his albums he has done so far. I'm probably the only big white man driving around the Beach blasting Jay-Z out of my car and I love it.

BTW, I noticed he was in town last night, happen to go see him by chance? I bet him playing at Rams Head would of been a SWEET show. Love that place.

[Raven07]

I Love Jay too, course im a Hip Hop/Rap Fan so of course i like him lol...the man is a Lyrical Genius and a complete "Boss" of the Music Industry....he is the owner "Def Jam" record company and has recruited nothing but phenominal talent for his company (just to name a Few....Rihanna, Ludacris...and ALOT more others)

[theFRANCHISE]

I Love Jay too, course im a Hip Hop/Rap Fan so of course i like him lol...the man is a Lyrical Genius and a complete "Boss" of the Music Industry....he is the owner "Def Jam" record company and has recruited nothing but phenominal talent for his company (just to name a Few....Rihanna, Ludacris...and ALOT more others)

Can't forget that he managed to keep Kanye West with Def Jam after Dame Dash broke away from Roc-A-Fella Records, and he also acquired Nas.

Those are two of the most respected and well-known acts in all of rap music today.

And the great thing about Jay being the president of Def Jam is that he can release his material as he pleases. It's easier for him to establish legal ownership of his masters since he has virtually no one he has to go through over top of him, and he can promote his work as he so chooses. But not that he needs more promotion than any of the other Def Jam acts, as he is a household name worldwide.

In theory, if he wanted to, he could release another album in a month's time at a whim. No legalese necessary, no advance promotion, no superiors to report to. That's essentially what he did with this last album, save for the necessary legal issues surrounding the album's title and the sample clearances for his songs. But he had mentioned this album no more than three or four months ago and released it with little promotion but with MAJOR sales.

[Raven07]

true true,being the owner and the president of his record company definately let's him release new material and whatever else whenever he wants

[ZIBBY28]

holy old thread...

yeah, I'm that bored.

How was this album franny? I'm not a big fan of rap, but the BP3 is sick.. How does it compare?

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='ZIBBY28' date='18 December 2009 - 06:12 AM' timestamp='1261134767' post='314806']
holy old thread...

yeah, I'm that bored.

How was this album franny? I'm not a big fan of rap, but the BP3 is sick.. How does it compare?
[/quote]
Thank you for digging up an OLD thread, lol.

I thought American Gangster was significantly better than The Blueprint 3. Production-wise, BP3 is better. But lyrically, seeing as how this is a conceptual album inspired by the Denzel Washington film, this one was better. It was a more inspired Jay than we've seen in a long time. The album as a whole flows into each other nicely. Even the poppier songs ("I Know" and "Party Life") work well when you listen closely to the metaphors and apply them to the drug-trafficking theme of the film.

[ravensfolife]

I thought both bp 2 and 3 was wack. Give me in my lifetime all vol., blueprint, and american gangster

[BloodRaven]

Did you guys catch this groovy new show on ABC?

[img]http://imaginarycinema.com/images/burton/batmantv.JPG[/img]

[Michael]

I didn't like the blueprints, as I don't like Jay Z to much. I don't like Lil Wayne much either (wack rhymes) but that lil wayne ft Eminem song "drop the world" was hot

[Stevemccain]

they're unique. incredibly good .

[BloodRaven]

Well if you hip-hop heads have the time, listen to a track called [b]The Points[/b] by Biggie

[J-man]

I dont like Jay-z too much, but the Blueprint 3 is a masterpiece.

[ravens27]

Empire State of Mind is my favorite song on BP3.

[BloodRaven]

Anyone see the new Jay Z vid for [i]On to the next one[/i]? its pretty impressive, and lots of demonic imagery for all the conspiracy theorists